Area high schools blend career training, academics

NORTH COUNTY -- Many school districts are recommitting
themselves to revamping high school curriculums to provide students
with a more well-rounded education, an informal survey and
discussion with North County education officials Tuesday
revealed.

Local school officials, who echoed the arguments of a UCLA study
of high school education and vocational training programs that was
released Tuesday morning, said that students are better prepared
for their futures when they are exposed to a curriculum that blends
career training, on-site field work and college preparatory
classes.

"I think the idea of actually letting them do the hands-on work
provides meaning. And meaning is one of the things that is critical
for getting kids involved and motivated because they understand
what it is all about," said Bob Henricks, assistant superintendent
of instruction at the San Marcos Unified School District.

In San Marcos, Henricks added, the district has made a push to
broaden student's educational opportunities by adding a health care
careers academy -- where students earn college credit while
garnering the medical skills and tools necessary for the profession
-- as well as a variety of computer programming classes and
hands-on fire science and criminal justice programs.

"There has always been career education, but for the most part
that has been low-level education," said Henricks. "In the old
days, it was 'make a napkin holder for your mom for Mother's Day'
and that is what most people think of when you say vocational
training."

Now, Henricks explained, the classes have developed to a point
where students are applying theories from their course in algebra,
calculus and physics to their daily lives.

Jeannie Oakes, a UCLA professor and co-director of the school's
Institute for Democracy, Education and Access, which issued the
"Multiple Pathways" study, said that the use of academic programs
to reinforce career training is an important development in
education because it allows students to prepare simultaneously for
college and a career.

"Both are required to give young people a fair and steady
start," she said.

The yearlong study, which includes the research of 15 California
scholars, argues that programs that combine career technical
training, internships and academic studies will help decrease
dropout rates, increase students' understanding of academic
concepts and prepare a majority of students, who will not receive a
bachelor's degree, for California's diverse labor market.

"We can promote a healthy economy by creating a skilled and
educated work force," said the institute's project director, Marisa
Saunders, noting that the demand for educating workers at all
levels is growing at a faster rate than the state is producing
them.

By addressing this issue statewide, she said, school officials
and community leaders can help ensure a strong, stable economic
future for California.

In many programs found in school districts throughout North
County, however, the ideas put forth in the study have already been
in the works for the last few years. Like the San Marcos Unified
School District, officials in Oceanside, Ramona, Poway, Encinitas
and other local cities have introduced career training courses in
health care, computers and the biotechnical industry.